Thailand changed its entry rules on 15 September 2026. The 60-day visa-free stay has ended: most Western passports now get 30 days, visa on arrival is limited to three countries, and India has moved from visa on arrival to the 30-day exemption. Rules can change again, so check the Thai embassy or the official e-Visa site (thaievisa.go.th) for your own nationality before you travel.
Visa-free entry from 15 September 2026
Nationals of 60 countries and territories can now enter Thailand without a visa for tourism and stay up to 30 days. This replaced the 60-day exemption for 93 countries that applied from 15 July 2024 to 14 September 2026 (TAT News announcement).
The 30-day list: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bhutan, Brunei, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Malaysia, Maldives, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.
Some countries keep their own agreements with Thailand:
| Stay without a visa | Who | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 90 days | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, South Korea | Bilateral agreement |
| 30 days | The 60 countries and territories above | New list |
| 30 days | China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam | Bilateral agreement |
| 15 days | Seychelles, Mauritius | New list |
| 14 days | Cambodia, Myanmar (Myanmar citizens by air only) | Bilateral agreement |
- Already in Thailand? If you were admitted before 15 September 2026, you keep the stay stamped on entry. A 60-day stamp is not cut to 30 days.
- Tourism only. Business trips, conferences and meetings need the right visa.
- Not on any list? You need a visa before travel. This now includes Mexico and Uzbekistan.
Visa on arrival
Visa on arrival is now available only to citizens of Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia, for up to 15 days. India, China and Armenia lost it. The fee is 2,000 THB. You need a passport photo taken within the last 6 months, a confirmed ticket out of Thailand within 15 days, a confirmed accommodation booking, and at least 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family. It is issued at all international airports and the major land crossings.
Visas you apply for before travel
If 30 days is not enough, apply for a visa before you leave. All Thai embassies and consulates use the online system at thaievisa.go.th, and you apply from outside Thailand.
| Visa | Stay | Validity | Fee (September 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa (TR), single entry | 60 days | 3 months | About 1,000 THB |
| Multiple-entry tourist visa (METV) | Up to 60 days per entry | 6 months | About 5,000 THB |
| Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | Up to 180 days per entry, extendable once | 5 years | About 10,000 THB |
Embassies charge the fee in their local currency. A tourist visa needs bank statements showing at least 20,000 THB; the DTV needs proof of 500,000 THB. Fees were checked in September 2026; confirm yours on thaievisa.go.th before you apply.
What to have ready at immigration
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival, with at least 1 blank page.
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), completed online (see below).
- Onward or return ticket and your first hotel booking, printed or saved offline.
- Proof of funds: at least 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family for visa-exempt visitors; 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB per family for tourist-visa holders. Cash, other currencies or payment documents count. Checks are at the officer's discretion, and people have been refused entry without this evidence.
- Health: a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you arrive from a yellow fever risk country. In September 2026 travellers from Ebola-affected regions are also screened and face at least 21 days of quarantine or self-isolation.
As of September 2026, no electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is required: the UK government's entry requirements page for Thailand lists only the TDAC.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
Since 1 May 2025, every foreigner entering by air, land or sea must complete the TDAC online within the 3 days before arrival. It replaced the paper TM6 card, so there is no departure slip to keep. It is not a visa.
- Use only tdac.immigration.go.th, where it is free. Lookalike sites charge fees.
- Children need their own TDAC, and you need a new one for every entry.
- Airside transit passengers who do not pass immigration do not need one.
A planned tourist entry fee for air arrivals (300 THB or more) was still not being collected as of May 2026, and no start date had been announced.
Extending your stay
A visa-exempt stay or a tourist visa can be extended once, by up to 30 days, at an immigration office: 1,900 THB in cash, form TM.7 and a passport photo. Under the 30-day exemption this gives about 60 days per entry. Approval and length are up to the officer, so apply a few days before your permitted stay ends. Immigration also offers an online Thailand E-Extension for some categories, including tourism.
- Bangkok: Government Complex, Building B, Chaeng Watthana Road. Monday to Friday, 08:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:30; queue tickets only until 15:30, so arrive early. Extensions on the 2nd floor, Door 2; e-Extension cases on the 3rd floor. Phone 0-2141-9889.
- Chiang Mai: 71 Moo 3, Airport Road, Suthep. The old Promenada mall office has closed.
- Phuket: 482 Phuket Road, Talat Yai. Phone 076 221 905. Hours as listed in September 2026: Monday to Friday, 09:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00; call the office to confirm before you go.
The Immigration Bureau call centre is 1178, Monday to Friday, 08:30-16:30.
Overstay penalties
Never overstay, even by one day. The fine is 500 THB per day, up to 20,000 THB (reached at 40 days). Longer overstays bring a ban on returning, counted from the day you leave:
| Overstay | Ban if you surrender | Ban if you are arrested |
|---|---|---|
| 90 days or less | None | 5 years |
| Over 90 days | 1 year | 5 years |
| Over 1 year | 3 years | 10 years |
| Over 3 years | 5 years | 10 years |
| Over 5 years | 10 years | 10 years |
Detention and deportation at your own cost are also possible.
Land borders in 2026
- Cambodia: all land crossings, including Aranyaprathet-Poipet, have been closed since the June-July 2025 border conflict and were still closed in mid-2026. Plan to fly to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, and check the border status before you travel.
- Laos: the daily Bangkok-Vientiane train runs to Khamsavath station near Vientiane, with Thai formalities at Nong Khai. The old Thanaleng station is closed to passengers.
- Limits on repeat entries: visa-exempt travellers may enter over a land border no more than twice per calendar year (except nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore). Visa-exempt entries in general are normally limited to two per calendar year, and a third visit may need a visa. Since November 2025, immigration has refused entry to people who exceed this without a good reason.
Customs: money and banned items
- Declare foreign currency above USD 20,000 in total (all currencies together) when you enter or leave. You may take out up to 50,000 THB in baht, or up to 500,000 THB to a neighbouring country; declare any larger amount. Failing to declare is a criminal offence.
- Duty-free allowance: 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of alcohol per person. The cigarette limit is enforced: extra cigarettes are confiscated, with fines of up to 10 times their value.
- Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal to bring in, possess or use.
- Cannabis is legal only with a Thai medical prescription, and taking it out of Thailand is illegal.
After immigration: getting to your hotel
Many travellers land with no Thai baht. With Smile Taxi Service you pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip; if you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (a 5% fee is added).
A person checks your flight, and airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting from the actual landing time, which helps when the immigration queue is long. The driver meets you at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) on Level 4 (Departures), near Gate 4, or at Don Mueang (DMK) on Level 3 (Departures), at the door named in the driver's details. Message on WhatsApp or LINE once you have your bags, and the car pulls up in about 5–10 minutes. Fares are fixed per vehicle (not per person), one way, tolls included, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details).
| Route (price per vehicle, one way) | Sedan | SUV | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Bangkok | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,100 THB |
| Don Mueang (DMK) to Bangkok | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,000 THB |
Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok or book a sedan from Don Mueang to Bangkok. See all routes and prices.
FAQ
How long can I stay without a visa in 2026? Since 15 September 2026, 30 days for the 60 listed countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU. South Koreans and some South Americans get 90 days.
I entered on a 60-day stamp in early September. Must I leave after 30 days? No. You keep the stay stamped on entry.
Can I extend my 30-day stay? Yes, once, by up to 30 days at an immigration office, for 1,900 THB. The officer decides.
Can I still do a border run to Cambodia? No. The Thailand-Cambodia land crossings have been closed since 2025, and visa-exempt land entries are limited to two per calendar year.
Can Indians still get a visa on arrival? No. Indians now get 30 days visa-free, so they do not need a visa on arrival. Visa on arrival is only for Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.
Have your documents ready, and message us on WhatsApp or LINE to have a driver waiting when you land.